It’s been five hundred years—although it seems like yesterday—since an energetic 33-year-old Augustinian friar, Martin Luther, is said to have approached the main entrance to the Castle Church of Wittenberg Germany to hammer a list of grievances to its gargantuan doors.
Dubbed the “ Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” more commonly known as “The Ninety- Five Theses,” Luther’s goatskin parchment contained a list of questions and propositions for debate.
The heretofore obscure, yet energetic, monk— who would eventually author a third of all books published in German during the first half of the 16th century – used the majority of his thesis to directly criticize the practice of indulgences; a kind of late-medieval get-out-of-jail-free card used by the church to make money; so christened by The New Yorker writer Joan Acocella.
Luther was well aware “indulgences” had a price tag. (Anyone familiar with the indulgence-sellers…purveyors of nonessential luxuries?)
Luther posed this question to authorities:
“Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus [politician], build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers [taxpayers]?”
As one might imagine, the powers that be didn’t take kindly to what they termed Luther’s “heresy,” so they summoned ornery Martin to a meeting of the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire held at Worms— essentially a “diet of worms.”
The idea of cutting off the revenue stream couldn’t be regarded as anything but blasphemous!
So, did Luther recant? Hardly. You might say he drove a few more “spikes.” Here’s his rebuttal in response to being asked to recant: “I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves. I cannot and will not recant anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.”
Although Luther’s act didn’t launch a fully-formed movement in a single action, he did give voice to ideas that had been brewing in Christendom for years. And that was because Europe was so ready for it. The relationship between the people and their rulers could hardly have been worse.
Maybe the recent Cook County Property Taxpayer survey—although not by any means a thesis – will likewise serve as a catalyst for reform…budget reform.
If I am to believe the impassioned imploring of one disgruntled survey respondent, at least one fellow is headed to his basement for a hammer and a few nails with paper in hand.
Here’s what he penned, with the attitude I might add, on his survey:
“Submit the results of this survey to state and federal officials for investigation. If you don’t, I will!”
Let me ask…When was the last time you nailed criticisms of the county’s budget to the door of the courthouse?
Former Cook County Commissioner Garry Gamble is writing this ongoing column about the various ways government works.
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